F1 legend makes emotional final appearance as unique helmet could raise millions

Sir Jackie Stewart has confirmed he does not intend to drive an F1 car again after a special outing at the Bahrain Grand Prix in his 1973 championship-winning Tyrrell. 

The 85-year-old three-time world champion made his grand prix debut 60 years ago in the 1965 South African GP and got to drive his 1973 title-winning machine for two laps of the Bahrain International Circuit before the grand prix itself. 

Stewart is aiming to raise awareness of dementia through his Race Against Dementia initiative after his wife Helen was diagnosed with the illness in 2014.

Taking the car out, Stewart was wearing his iconic Tartan helmet, which has been signed by all 20 living world champions, including Michael Schumacher, and spoke to select media including RacingNews365 soon afterwards.

"You don't forget where first gear or fifth gear is, the car felt wonderful," Stewart said.

"We didn't go fast, but the whole feeling of the car was great, and it was fun to do. It wasn't my idea, but that of my children. They spoke to the FIA, and everybody supported it immediately, nobody had any questions."

Stewart then confirmed he "would have thought that is it" forever driving an F1 car again. Asked why not do so at Silverstone - a track on which he won three times - and in front of 120,00 ahead of the British Grand Prix, he joked: "It is not quite fast enough!"

Son Mark then gave an update on the future of the special helmet Stewart wore featuring the signatures of the 20 surviving world champions, which took over a year to collect. 

Michael Schumacher was aided by his wife Corinna when adding his moniker to the helmet, which could potentially be placed into a global auction, open to the public, and potentially raise millions of pounds. 

"We haven't fully decided what we're going to do, it could either be an auction or a global raffle, like 20 pounds a ticket or something like that," said Mark Stewart.

'We're not in a rush, but we know we have something very valuable here, and at the end of the season, we might be able to get the new world champion to sign it. 

"It is a special thing to get my father together with his helmet and his 1973 world championship-winning car, it is unique and a really special moment. 

"All of his grandchildren are here to see it and it is all for this great cause of Race Against Dementia, which my father started and is already doing incredible work."